Peer-reviewed article
The longitudinal co-development of adverse childhood experiences and child internalizing problems: Examining sociodemographic disparities
Cynthia M. Navarro Flores, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez, Brenna Gomer, Tyson S. Barrett, Hyojun Park et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study followed 4,655 at-risk children in the United States at ages 3, 5, and 9. It looked at how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and internalizing problems (such as anxiety and low mood) develop together over time. It found several distinct trajectories: ACE exposure tended to stay stable, while internalizing problems either decreased or increased. Children of Color and children from low-income families were more likely to be in worse trajectories. The authors call for culturally responsive, trauma-informed interventions and policies that address the root causes of inequity.
Key points
- The sample was 4,655 at-risk youth assessed at ages 3, 5, and 9; 52.2% were boys.
- The sample was 44.7% Black, 22.5% Hispanic, 16.7% Other, and 16.2% White.
- Cumulative ACE exposure showed trajectories with stable levels over time, while internalizing problems trajectories decreased or increased.
- The findings provide some evidence of a dose–response relationship between ACEs and internalizing problems.
- Youth of Color and youth from low-income backgrounds were more likely to be in worse ACE, internalizing, and joint trajectories at ages 3, 5, and 9.
Limitations
Only the abstract is available, so details on how ACEs and internalizing problems were measured, and on the analysis methods, are not known. The study is observational and focused on at-risk US youth, so it cannot show causation or apply directly to other settings, including African contexts.
Abstract
Abstract Internalizing problems are prevalent in childhood and are associated with exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); however, their co-development across childhood remains understudied. Prior research documents sociodemographic disparities (i.e., race/ethnicity, sex, income) in ACE exposure and internalizing problems. The current study examined individual and co-developing trajectories of ACEs and internalizing problems and sociodemographic disparities among 4,655 diverse at-risk youth at ages 3, 5, and 9. Participants were 52.2% boys and racially and ethnically diverse, with 44.7% Black, 22.5% Hispanic, 16.7% Other, and 16.2% White youth. Results showed various trajectories with stable levels of cumulative ACE exposure over time and internalizing problems trajectories that decreased or increased over time. Findings provide some evidence for a dose–response relationship between ACEs and internalizing problems. Youth of Color (φ = 0.26, 0.11, 0.19) and from low-income backgrounds ( ϵ 2 = 0.07–0.09, 0.02, 0.06–0.08) were more likely to be in worse trajectories of ACEs, internalizing problems, and joint trajectories across ages 3, 5, and 9, respectively. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive trauma-informed interventions and policy-level efforts that target the root cause of inequities.